Bourdais keeps IndyCar driver win streak alive at Daytona

Sebastien Bourdais

Sebastien Bourdais has won endurance races such as the Spa 24 Hours, sports car races like the inaugural Brickyard Grand Prix, V8 Supercar races, and 31 Indy car races.

Adding the Rolex 24 At Daytona overall victory to his hall of fame resume Jan. 26 was personally satisfying.

Bourdais continued the streak of IndyCar Series drivers to win the twice-around-the-clock race to four consecutive years. Bourdais, who turns 35 on Feb. 28, teamed with Joao Barbosa and Christian Fittipaldi as the Action Express Racing Corvette Prototype held off a restart challenge by the Wayne Taylor Racing car following a full-course caution with eight minutes left to win by 1.461 seconds.

"It's one of those historic races that you just want to put on your resume," said Bourdais, who has been the runner-up three times in the 24 Hours Le Mans in his home town. "It's done today, and it was done fighting hard for it and it really feels good for the entire Team Chevy and everybody because we went and grabbed this one."

Next up for the four-time Champ Car champion are the Indianapolis 500 Mile Race and IndyCar Series championship. Bourdais commences the IndyCar Series season March 30 in the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg in the Chevrolet-powered No. 11 KVSH Racing car.

"I'm elated that he's going to come into the season after this victory and boost his confidence, which has been building with his finish last year of top-10 finishes in four of the final five races," said KV Racing Technology co-owner Jimmy Vasser, the 1996 Champ Car champion. "You don't win 31 races and four championships in a row if you don't know how to win. He led that team and had the fastest lap and he was just phenomenal. I'm really happy for him and look forward to what lies in store for the IndyCar Series season."

More than a dozen IndyCar Series drivers competed in the 52nd annual race. Charlie Kimball (2013), Justin Wilson (2012) and Graham Rahal (2011) were the previous IndyCar Series drivers in the streak to earn the signature watch. Last year, Ryan Hunter-Reay (second) and Wilson presented a sweep for IndyCar Series drivers.